ConcurrentPermanency Planning

Concurrent Permanency Planning (CPP)The process of working towards reunification while at the same time planning an alternative permanency plan in the event that reunification efforts are unsuccessful.

Plan A = is reunificationPlan B = must be one of the following federally approved permanency goals in order of preference: adoption, guardianship, permanent placement with a fit and willing relative, or another planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA)Concurrent Permanency Planning

CPP:Plan A & Plan BParents informed of concurrent permanency planning process from day one.Parents must have opportunity to provide input on Plan B.Plan B is only initiated after court determines reunification is no longer the goal.Goal is timely permanency for children in care.

Hint:Discuss permanency plans with parents and placement caregivers early and often.Ensure that foster parents/caregivers are involved and informed.Always let parents know exactly when and how services/action steps are to be completed.

Concurrent Permanency Planning Policy GuidelinesSee 722-9 for guidelines for Permanency Planning Goal recommendations.Permanency Planning Goal recommendation must be documented in the Recommendations to the Court section of every USP.Recommendations to change the Permanency Planning Goal do not require a Permanency Planning Hearing.

full disclosure:The process of being open and honest with all parties (birth family, foster family, attorneys, etc.) about the concurrent permanency planning process. All parties are informed that there will be an alternative permanency plan for the child if the child can not safely return home within a reasonable amount of time.

The birth parents must clearly understand what is required in order for the child to safely return home. They must also understand that if they do not meet the expectations required in a reasonable time frame, the agency will make a recommendation to the court to implement the alternative permanency plan.

Full Disclosure:

Provide honest and open feedback.Child safety concerns must be addressed.Clearly present timeframes and expectations.Communicate parental rights and responsibilities.Structured Decision Making process must be followed.

CPP:Parent/Child Contact Guidelines

Ages 0 to 2 years of age: 3 visits per week

Ages 3 to 5 years of age: 2 visits per week

Ages 6 years and up: 1 visit per week

Parent/Child Contact TipsAsk relatives/foster parents to supervise additional visits.Utilize community activities/events to provide additional visits.Include parents and foster parents in parenting time plan.See visitation guideline handouts for additional ideas.

Examples of Parent/Child ContactMedical/dental visits.Early On services for infants.Extracurricular/Sporting activities.Family Counseling.Church.School lunch/daycare feedings.Transportation.Foster home.Family Team Meetings.

diligent relative search:Child Welfare staff must complete a diligent search for relatives or non-relatives for child(ren) in foster care. The relative search must be initiated by the CPS worker upon removal. The FC worker must continue quarterly search and engagement efforts until the child obtains legal permanency.

Specific guidelines for relative search requirements are outlined in FOM 722-6 and PSM 715-2.

CPP:Relative Search TipsRelatives can be utilized for visitation supervision, transportation and respite.All relative search efforts must be documented using search forms and in Social Work contacts.Continuous engagement of relatives

CPP:Relative Search FormsDHS 987 Relative Documentation: Relative contact informationDHS 988 Relative Search Information: Additional relative search contactsDHS 989 Relative Response Form: How relatives want to be involved.DHS 990 Relative NotificationDHS 991 Diligent Search Checklist

frontloading services:Foster Care (FC) worker makes appropriate service referrals for the family as soon as possible after the child enters foster care, but no later than 30 days after the initial placement.

Parents should be encouraged to participate in services. However, parental compliance with service plan is voluntary until court disposition unless the court orders otherwise [MCL 712A.13a(8)(c)]. Declining to participate, prior to the dispositional hearing, will not be determined as failure to comply with the supervising agency FOM 722-6.

CPP:Front Loading Services TipsDelays in service provision must not be based on favorite providers.Requires close collaboration with courts, family, caregivers and service providers.Clear understanding by parents that a time sensitive matter.

*Large Group Discussion:

Required only on new cases that come in after completion of training.Refer group to draft policy in handbook for specific requirements.Reunification must be permanency goal in order to meet CPP criteria.Child must be in a court ordered out of home placement with a non-parent adult.*Large Group Discussion:

CPS must make attempts to introduce the concept, but focus on the agencys efforts to ensure timely permanency.Make sure that parents understand that reunification is first and foremost. A concurrent plan is only a back up plan.The court, not the agency, determines when permanency goals change.Ask the group for best ways to bring up concurrent planning to parents during early team meetings. Utilize experience in the room to develop strategies that have or are likely to be successful with various types of client.*Large Group Discussion:

Utilize team meeting process to inform.Ensure that parents and foster parents/caregivers understand that mistakes are likely to occur. Planning and understanding will lessen the impact of setbacks with regards to successful service plan completion.*Large Group Discussion:Ensure that group understands how recommendations to change goals are made and when?Ask how people determine when a child goes home? Highlight the requirement that parents must demonstrate gained benefit not simply participate in services.

*Large Group Discussion:Ensure that parents are given accurate and timely information.Never provide parents with a specific date regarding reunification, always focus on under what circumstances something will take place. Always inform parents of their rights and responsibilities. Be informed so that you can provide better information.Be honest, not rude.

*Large Group Discussion:These are minimum visitation guidelines for CPP cases.Refer participants to visitation needs for children handouts.Discussion of what exactly is considered a parenting time visits.Parenting time plans should be comprehensive and include multiple opportunities for parent/child contact.Local ISD/Head Start programs in most counties will facilitate/supervise parent child visitation for children. Check resources in your area.*Large Group Discussion:

Consider other professionals for purposes of visitation.Foster parents/caregivers should always be involved in the planning of visits.Community events, school activities, church services and/or daycare may all be opportunities for additional visits. *Large Group Discussion:

Basic ideas of parent/child visits.FTMs that take place in parental homes should always be considered as an opportunity for parents to visit and connect with their children.All ideas wont be applicable in every situation, safety must always be considered. However a parents anger should not always be considered a safety issue. (ex. Parents angry at removal)*Large Group Discussion:

A record of all relatives must be maintained regardless of whether or not they are appropriate for placement.The idea is to allow the child to have continued contact with familiar adults.Relatives can be utilized for placement, to supervise parenting time, provide transportation, a source of emotional support or simply to establish or continue contact with blood relatives for a child in care.

Discussion point:Within the first 30 days, emphasize full disclosure and the importance of initial placement stability. *Large Group Discussion:

Refer participants to CPS and FC policy regarding documentation requirements for completion of these forms.These forms satisfy federal requirements related to relative search efforts.Both DHS and PAFC must complete and utilize these forms.

*Large Group Discussion:

Is this being done now?What are the current barriers to referring services within 30 days?Is it realistic for a motivated parent to get services this early? Why or why not?Other ideas that people have used to gain access to difficult to find services?*